May is International Lupus Awareness Month. Sadly Lupus is increasing in numbers and not many have full knowledge of this disease.
What is Lupus?
Lupus is an auto-immune disease that can damage any part of the body. Auto-immune means that your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues and creates antibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These antibodies cause pain, inflammation and damage to various parts of the body.
Facts about Lupus
- Lupus is not contagious. You cannot catch lupus or give to anyone!
- Lupus is not like cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant abnormal tissue that grows rapidly and spreads into surrounding tissues.
- Lupus is not related to HIV and AIDS. With HIV and AIDS, the immune system is underactive. With Lupus the immune system is overactive.
- Lupus affects mostly women.
- There is no known cause but stress and hereditary factors seem to be of significance.
Symptoms
- Extreme fatigue
- Headaches
- Painful and swollen joints
- Fever
- Anaemia
- Swelling of feet and/or hands
- Pain in the chest on deep breathing
- Butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose
- Hair loss
- Abnormal blood clotting
- Fingers turning blue
- Mouth or nose ulcers
When I was diagnosed 24 years ago, lupus was not very well -known. The doctor told me that I have a condition which would not allow me to live more than four years. And I was given a prescription for steroids which I refused to take because of the serious side effects. I attribute my longevity to following a Lupus recommended diet and having Ayurvedic massages.
Because of my experience with Lupus, I have started a support centre in Morningside, Durban to share my knowledge and advice, to counsel and treat.
Patients feel helpless and depressed and they need someone to talk to. Many do not get family support. Their friends and family do not understand how they are feeling. With the support group, they can relate to like-minded people and share ideas.
Awareness has also increased. Many are not aware that they have Lupus as initial symptoms are confused with arthritis. Continuous testing is advised to get the correct results. Early detection is advisable so that treatment can start early before that situation gets worse. Lifestyle change is recommended.
Lupus not only creates physical challenges but also emotional and psychological challenges, such as:
- Loss of income, hope and independence
- Mood swings, as one feels low in energy levels
- Difficulty with memory and an inability to concentrate and make decisions
- Changes in sleep and eating patterns and continuous fatigue
All of these affect one’s social life and coping with your family’s needs becomes difficult.
With the support group, the patients and their families learn to work around the situation and make it a pleasant and happy environment. What can also help is the sharing of duties, working flexi-time and engaging in activities like music and massage to de-stress.
Our programme is to approach a holistic approach to healing. Ayurveda treats the cause of the problem and doesn’t just suppress the symptoms. Ayurvedic treatment has no side effects.
Refuse to be the victim of Lupus – think positively and be determined to succeed and you will! I am an example of conquering this disease by perseverance to survive!
Please visit our Support and Treatment Centre in Morningside, Durban. We are open daily – including weekends and public holidays.
You may contact me on 031 – 3124432 or the details below.